M4.5 Earthquake 85 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — August 20, 2026
2026-08-20 21:57:40 UTC (5 hours ago) · approx. 7:57 AM UTC+10 local
On August 20, 2026 at 21:57 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 intermediate depth earthquake struck 85 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 213.5 km and coordinates 15.9742°, 145.6176°. This earthquake was detected by 78 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
145.6176°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 85 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on August 20, 2026 at 21:57 UTC had a depth of 213.5 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 15.9742°, 145.6176°, which is 85 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000tmb4). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, August 20, 2026). M4.5 Earthquake 85 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — August 20, 2026. Retrieved August 21, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000tmb4/